Gravel cleaner for aquariums



, vINVENTOR Edgar A vPowers E, A. POWERS GRAVEL CLEANER FOR AQUARIUMSDec. 26, 1967 vOriginal Filed Jan.

United States Patent O ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Aquarium tank cleanerand filter composed of a hollow base member having a side wall, an openlower end adapted to seat in the particulate bed of a functioningaquarium with an air tube extending into the member and having a lowerend positioned within the interior thereof to discharge air into the bedand agitate it and to create a vacuum in the base member with its sidewall having apertures above the tubes lower end for water to enter thebase member under the vacuum conditions therein and a water outflow tubeat the side wall above the apertures with a disposable porous ilter onthe outer end of the outow tube to entrap impurities from thedischarging Water.

This application is a continuation of my copending application, SerialNo. 426,510, led Jan. 19,1965 (now abandoned).

The general object of this invention is to provide a simple, compact,easily manipulated, inexpensive means of removing dirt and impuritieswhich lodge in the gravel areas within the 'bases of aquariums. Thereare many known devices used for circulating, aerating and filtering thewater in aquariums, but heretofore, as known, each such device isintended to aerate and clean the water and provide, as an end, improvedwater conditions in the aquarium. Y v

However effective such devices may be in realizing their primeobjective, there are many defects, from a cost and operationalstandpoint, associated therewith.

Conventional aerating and filtering devices for aquariums arecumbersome, bulky and require a maximum of care and constantreplacement.

Conventional devices of this type tend to impair and interfere with thecirculation of the water in the aquarium.

Conventional devices must be removed for cleaning purposes at frequenttimes, or else the circulation within the cleaning or cleansing chambersas portions thereof becomes ineffective.

Conventional devices tend to transmit impurities in the water to a pointabove the water level in the tank, which tendency has a decided effecton the circulation of the water in the tank.

Conventional devices provide no agitation means other than a dischargeof air bubbles above the upper level of the gravel bed in the bottom ofthe tank and rely entirely upon water circulation for the dislodgementof dirt and impurities from the gravel.

Conventional devices are constructed with means adapted to be disposedabove the tank and to cooperate with means immersed in the water in thetank, such above water level means requiring excessive storage place,replacement, servicing and involving clumsy manipulation.

Having in mind these defects in conventional devices of this type and inthe prior art, the primary aim and objective of the present invention isto overcome these defects and to provide an extremely simple, compactand eficient device which, in essence, is devoid of any moving parts andwhich is constituted by only a minimum number of components; yet, whichfunctions in an optimum manner to achieve the desired result ofcirculating,

aerating and (most important) filtering the water in an aquarium.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a devicefor filtering, aerating and conditioning the water in an aquarium in amanner so that a greater turbulence within the gravel bed area iscreated and a faster and more constant circulation of the Water isrealized.

A further importantobject of the present invention is to provide adevice which, because of its simplicity, translated into constructional,purchasing and operational costs, is remarkable in achieving the endresult of optimum water conditions in an aquarium and which will bewithin the range of users of home aquariums.

The foregoing and ancillary objects are attained, the advantagesrealized and the afore-stated defects overcome by the present invention,the preferred embodiment of which is set forth, by way of example, inthe following description, succinctly pointed out in the appended claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure is afragmentary vertical sectional view of an aquarium provided with agravel cleaning and filtering device made in accordance with the instantinvention; all components of the device being shown in vertical section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10designates a conventional tank or aquarium which is provided with a bedof gravel or sand 12 on its bottom wall 14. The gravel bed, as isconventional, is only a few inches in depth. The tank or aquarium isfilled with water to the level 16.

The invention proper comprises an elongated tube or tubular member 18which may be formed from any desired material, but, preferably, isfabricated from inexpensive material that can withstand immersion inwater. The tube 1'8 has opposing open ends 20 and 22, the former beingthe upper end and the latter the lower end.

The tube 18 adjacent its lower end 22 is structurally associated with abase member 24 that is of conical form but which can assume anyformation with the important factor being that its lower end is open andof greater dimension than its upper end. This is desired so that thebase member seats well within the gravel bed. Y

The lower end portion of the tube 18, which is of a relatively smalldiameter in relation to the cross-sectional area of the tank 10, ispassed through the open upper end 25 of the conical base member and issuitably affixed thereto, in a manner so that it is air-tight and solidtherewith. The open lower end 22 of the tube terminates ata pointslightly above the lower base end of the base member 24.

The tube or tubular member 18 is of a length so that its open upper end20 is disposed above the Water level 16, with` the upper end beingadapted to be attached to or associated with a source of air underpressure. In this regard, it is intended that such air source can be ameans originating compressed air or can even be constituted by manualair pressure by applying ones mouth to the upper end Aand using air fromthe lungs. For this latter purpose, a length of flexible tubing can beattached to the upper end 20 and incorporate a mouthpiece to be used byan operator. It is also important to note that the upper end extendsabove the water level to function as a handle in manipulating the deviceto locations where impurities are embedded within the gravel in theaquarium.

The air entering the base member 24 as it passes through the tube 18'causes av Severe agitation of the pebbles or gravel and results in adislodgement therefrom of the dirt and sediment which gravitate into thegravel bed. This causes the dirt and sediment to rise about the outsideof the base member and mix with the water and, also, effects aturbulence ofthe water.

In addition, the air, as it leaves the base member 24, creates a vacuumin the base member and to realize the effect of this, in attaining theobjective of filtering the water, the base member is formed, above itslower end, which is submerged in the gravel bed, with apertures 26, theapertures being formed in the side wall of the base member above thelower end 22 of the air tube 18.

These apertures 26, which are formed in a circumerentially spacedseries, are designed `for the unrestricted flow of the water into thebase member, under the vacuum conditions. Obviously, the continuouslyentering water will seek its higher level and, an escape and filteringentrapment means 28 is provided in structural association with the basemember.

Such means 28 includes a tubular member 30, which may be rigid orexible, and which is connected, in a diverging fashion, to an opening 32in the upper portion of the base member and which terminates in an openouter end 34 that is located below the water level. The tubular member30 may be fixed in the opening 32, as shown, or may be otherwisesuitably attached to the base member so as to be in communication withthe interior of the base member through the opening 32.

The means 28 further includes a porous filtering element 36 that isattached to the outer end 34 in such a waltl that all the water escapingfrom the base member, through the tubular member 30, must passtherethrough. As illustrated, the filtering element 36 is in the form ofa line mesh, porous, bag which has its open neck portion suitablycircumposed in a Huid-tight, fixed but easily detachable manner, on theouter end of the tubular member 30. The filtering element constitutes aporous enclosure for the accumulation of impurities but will permit theeasy passage of water therethrough.

In use, the upper end 20 of the assembled device is utilized as a handlein lowering the device into the aquarium, which is already provided withthe gravel bed 12 and filled with water up to the level, for example,16. The device is lowered into the aquarium until the base of theconical base member 24 is firmly situated in the gravel bed to provide astable support with the apertures 26 being above the gravel bed. Airunder pressure, from any suitable source, is transmitted through thetube 18 from its upper end 20 and is discharged into the gravel bed. Theair produces a severe agitation of the gravel bed causing the previouslygravitated impurities, which are lighter than the pebbles or gravel, torise and, also, effecting a turbulence of the water. The water is suckedinto the base member through the apertures 26 with the water carryingthe dislodged dirt and impurities. Such water, seeking its higher level,passes through the tubular member 30 and out through the filter bag 36,leaving behind in the filter bag 36 the dirt and impurities, whichremain entrapped in the filter bag 36.

When the filter bag or filtering element 36 becomes full, it is but asimple matter to remove the device from the aquarium and replace theused bag with a new one. Obviously, the cost of such a replacement bagis negligible and the convenience of replacement can be appreciated.

It can thus be seen that the present invention essentially isconstituted by an air tube, which doubles as a handle, a base memberwith apertures and defining a support and a vacuum chamber and afiltering means associated with the base member and lying below thewater level. As can be appreciated from a consideration of the drawing,the air tube 18, base member 24 and water outow tube 30 may be formed inintegral relation as one piece. More particularly, the deviceessentially composed of such parts, may be molded in one piece frominexpensive commercial plastics.

The tubular member 30 is preferably rigid, but if desired, a flexibletubing extension may be attached to mem- 4 ber 30 as a substitute forthe filter bag 36. This flexible extension would act as a means ofconveyance of impurities to a location remote and above the water levelof the tank.

Thus, the prime objective of cleaning the gravel, circulating andfiltering the water is realized by a device which is not permanently apart of the tank, but may be utilized in selected areas within the tankat the discretion of the operator.

However, while the best known embodiment of this invention has beendescribed herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, otherforms may be realized as come Within the scope and spirit of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in an aquarium tank, a water-treating means comprising ahollow base member having an open lower end adapted to be seated in agravel bed in the tank and maintain the base member in a substantiallyvertical position in the tank, an air tube extending in an air-tightmanner substantially vertically into the base member and terminating inan open lower end disposed within the base member above the lower endthereof and through which air under pressure is adapted to be passedinto the gravel bed under the lower end of the base member to agitatethe gravel bed and dislodge impurities therefrom and to create a vacuumin the interior of the base member, said base member being formed abovethe lower end of the air tube with apertures to permit water to enterinto the interior of the base member under the vacuum conditionsexisting therein and filtering means structurally assobiated with thebase member above the apertures and in communication with the interiorthereof so that the water entering the base member through the aperturesmust pass therethrough in returning to the tank.

2. For use in an aquarium tank, a Water-treating means comprising ahollow base member adapted to be seated in a gravel bed in the tank, asubstantially vertical air tube extending air-tightly into the basemember and terminating in an open lower end disposed within the interiorof the base member and through which air under pressure is adapted to bepassed into the gravel bed underlying the base member to agitate thegravel bed and dislodge impurities therefrom and to create a vacuum inthe interior of the base member, said base member being formed above thelower end of the air tube with apertures to permit water to enter intothe interior of the base member under the vacuum conditions existingtherein, said base member having an opening provided above the aperturesthrough which the water in the interior of the base member can returnback into the tank and filtering means connected to the opening toentrap the impurities as the water leaves the base member through theopening.

3. For use in an aquarium tank having a particulate bed and containingwater, a water-treating means cornprising a hollow base member having anopen lower end adapted to be seated in the bed in the tank, asubstantially vertical air tube extending air-tightly into the basemember and terminating in an open lower end disposed within the interiorof the base member above the lower end thereof and through which airunder pressure is adapted to be passed'directly into the bed underlyingthe lower end of the base member to agitate the bed and dislodgeimpurities therefrom and to create a vacuum in the interior of the basemember, said base member being formed above the lower end of the airtube with apertures to permit water to enter into the interior of thebase member under the vacuum conditions existing therein, said basemember having an opening provided above the apertures through which thewater in the interior of the base member can return back into the tankand filtering means connected to the opening to entrap the impurities asthe water leaves the tank through the opening, said filtering meansbeing adapted to lie submerged in the water and including a disposable,porous element connected to the opening.

4. For use vin an aquarium tank having a particulate bed and containingwater, a water-treating means comprising a hollow base member having anopen Alower end adapted to be seated in the bed in the tank, asubstantially vertical air tube extending air-tightly into the basemember and terminating in an open lower end disposed within the interiorof the base member above the lower end thereof and through which airunder pressure is adapted to be passed directly into the bed underlyingthe lower end of t-he base member to agitate the bed and dislodgeimpurities therefrom and to create a vacuum in the interior of the basemember, said base member being formed above the lower end of the airtube with apertures to permit water to enter into the interior of thebase member under the vacuum conditions existing therein, said basemember having an opening provided above the apertures through which thewater in the interior of the base member can return back into the tankand filtering means connected to the opening to entrap the impurities asthe water leaves the tank through the opening, said filtering meansincluding a tubular member connected to the opening and terminating inan outer outlet and disposed within the water in the tank and a porous,displaceable bag-like element removably secured on the outer end of thetubular member and submerged within the water in the tank.

5. For use in an aquarium tank, a water-treating means comprising ahollow base member having an open major lower end adapted to beseatingly embedded in a gravel bed in the tank and having a side walland an upper minor end, an air tube connected to and extendingair-tightly into the base member adjacent the upper end thereof anddisposed substantially vertically in the interior of the base member andterminating therein in an open lower end disposed slightly above thelower end of the base member and through which air under pressure isadapted to be passed into the gravel bed directly underlying the basemember to agitate the gravel bed and dislodge impurities therefrom andto create a vacuum in the interior of the base member, said side wall ofthe base member being formed above the lower end of the air tube withapertures to permit water to enter into the interior of the base memberunder the vacuum conditions existing therein, said base member having anopening formed in the side wall above the apertures and adjacent theupper end of the base member through which the Water in the interior ofthe base member can return back into the tank and iiltering meansconnected to the opening to entrap the impurities as the water leavesthe tank through the opening, said filtering means including a tubularmember divergently connected to the opening and adapted to be entirelysubmerged in the water and terminating in an outer open end and a porousbag removably secured to the outer end of the tubular member.

6. For use in an aquarium tank, a water-treating means comprising ahollow base member having an open lower base end adapted to be seated ina gravel bed in the tank and having a side wall and an upper end, asubstantially rigid vertical air tube connected to and extending intothe base member air-tightly through the upper end of the base member andterminating in an open lower end disposed slightly above the open baseend of the base member and through which air under pressure is adaptedto be passed into the gravel bed directly underlying the base member toagitate the gravel bed and dislodge impurities therefrom and to create avacuum in the interior of the base member, said side wall of the basemember being formed above the lower end of the air tube with aperturesto permit water surrounding the base member to enter into the interiorof the base member under the vacuum conditions existing therein andfiltering means connected to the side wall of the base member above theapertures and adjacent the upper end of the base member for the outflowof water in the interior of the base member so that the water enteringthe base member passes therethrough in returning to the tank, said airtube having an open upper end extending above the water level in thetank and adapted to receive a source of air under pressure and tofunction as a handle in placing said watertreating means into the tankand removing it therefrom.

7. For use in an aquarium tank, a water-treating means comprising ahollow conical base member having an open major lower end adapted to beseated in a gravel bed in the tank and having a side wall and an upperapex and provided with an axial opening, a vertical air tube connectedto and extending into the base member airtightly through the opening inthe upper end and disposed vertically within the interior of the basemember and terminating therein in an open lower end disposed slightlyabove the lower end of the base member and through which air underpressure is adapted to be passed into the gravel bed directly underlyingthe base member to agitate the gravel bed and dislodge impuritiestherefrom and to create a vacuum in the interior of the base member,said side wall of the base member being formed above the lower end ofthe air tube with apertures to permit water surrounding the base memberto enter into the interior of the base member under the vacuum conditions existing therein and filtering means connected to the side wallof the base member above the apertures and adjacent the upper end of thebase member so that the water entering the base member passestherethrough in returning to the tank.

8. For use in an aquarium tank, a water-treating means comprising ahollow substantially conical base member having an open major lower endadapted to be seated in a gravel bed in the tank and having a side walland an upper apex and provided with an axial opening, a verticalsubstantially rigid air tube connected to and extending into the basemember air-tightly through the opening in the upper end and disposedvertically within substantially the center of the interior of the basemember and terminating therein in an open lower end disposed slightlyabove the lower end of the base member and through which air underpressure is adapted to be passed directly into the gravel bed underlyingthe interior of the base member to agitate the gravel bed and dislodgeimpurities therefrom and to create a vacuum in the interior of the basemember, said side wall of the base member being formed above the lowerend of the air tube with a series of circumferentially spaced aperturesto permit water surrounding the base member to enter into the interiorof the base member under the vacuum conditions existing therein andfiltering means connected to the side wall of the base member above theapertures and adjacent the upper end thereof so that the water enteringthe base member passes therethrough in returning to the tank, saidfiltering means being adapted to be submerged in the water and includinga disposable porous element.

9. A filtering and particulate bed cleaning device for an aquariumcomprising a hollow conical base member having a side wall, an open baseend and an upper apex end formed with an axial opening, a substantiallyrigid vertical air tube for the passage of air under pressure having alower end portion vertically inserted through said opening andair-tightly connected thereto, said lower end portion extendingvertically into the interior of the base member substantially centrallythereof and terminating in an open lower end disposed slightly above thebase end of the base member, said air tube having an upper open endportion adapted to be communicated with a source of air under pressureand to be used as a handle in the placement of the device in anaquarium, said base member having apertures formed in its side wallabove the lower end of the air tube, a substantially rigid tubularmember connected to the side wall above the apertures and divergingupwardly therefrom and communicated with the interior of the base memberfor the outward passage of water from the interior of the base member,said tubular member terminating below the upper end portion of the airtube in an open outlet end and a disposable, porous element connected tothe outlet end of the tubular member.

8 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said base mem- 2,956,507 10/ 1960Hutchinson 210-169 ber, air tube and tubular member are integral.3,225,930 12/1965 Willinger 210-169 X 11. The device of claim 9, whereinSaid base member, A air tube and tubular member are of one-piece plasticFOREIGN PATENTS formation 5 1,282,685 12/ 1961 France.

References Cited G ITHE? t 1956 'UNITED STATES PATENTS man Pm e app Ca1f ugus Newell Pflmal'y Exanune'.

2,820,548 1/ 1958 Marcus et al. 210-169 10 F. MEDLEY, AssistantExaminer.

4. FOR USE IN AN AQUARIUM TANK HAVING A PARTICULATE BED AND CONTAININGWATER, A WATER-TREATING MEANS COMPRISING A HOLLOW BASE MEMBER HAVING ANOPEN LOWER END ADAPTED TO BE SEATED IN THE BED IN THE TANK, ASUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AIR TUBE EXTENDING AIR-TIGHTLY INTO THE BASEMEMBER AND TERMINATING IN AN OPEN LOWER END DISPOSED WITHIN THE INTERIOROF THE BASE MEMBER ABOVE THE LOWER END THEREOF AND THORUGH WHICH AIRUNDER PRESSURE IS ADAPTED TO BE PASSED DIRECTLY INTO THE BED UNDERLYINGTHE LOWER END OF THE BASE MEMBER TO AGITATE THE BED AND DISLODGEIMPURITIES THEREFROM AND TO CREATE A VACUUM IN THE INTERIOR OF THE BASEMEMBER, SAID BASE MEMBER BEING FORMED ABOVE THE LOWER END OF THE AIRTUBE WITH APERTURES TO PERMIT WATER TO ENTER INTO THE INTERIOR OF THEBASE MEMBER UNDER THE VACUUM CONDITIONS EXISTING THEREIN, SAID BASEMEMBER HAVING AN OPENING PROVIDED ABOVE THE APERTURES THROUGH WHICH THEWATER IN THE INTERIOR OF THE BASE MEMBER CAN RETURN BACK INTO THE TANKAND FILTERING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OPENING TO ENTRAP THE IMPURITIES ASTHE WATER LEAVES THE TANK THROUGH THE OPENING, SAID FILTERING MEANSINCLUDING A TUBULAR MEMBER CONNECTED TO THE OPENING AND TERMINATING INAN OUTER OUTLET AND DISPOSED WITHIN THE WATER IN THE TANK AND A POROUS,DISPLACEABLE BAG-LIKE ELEMENT REMOVABLY SECURED ON THE OUTER END OF THETUBULAR MEMBER AND SUBMERGED WITHIN THE WATER IN THE TANK.